We’ll miss her, won’t we?

The only film of Gabriel Byrne’s that my mother ever saw was Point of No Return.

It had just become available on video and I rented it from the neighborhood video store (remember those?) and we watched it together. She died a year later, so this is a bitter-sweet memory, as you might guess.

I remember she was a little uneasy with all of the early violence, but when Gabriel Byrne made his appearance, she looked at me and said “Oh, he’s a handsome one, isn’t he?” And I just grinned at her.

I had seen the original, upon which this was based: La Femme Nikita, directed by Luc Besson. It was an intriguing mystery/action film with an amazing lead, Anne Parillaud, who would appear a few years later in two Gabriel Byrne films, The Man in the Iron Mask and Frankie Starlight. In Nikita she was a honed, toned, and ultra-violent young woman who made you think twice. It was a really striking performance and the film itself was inventive, taking, as it did, its story from the myth of Pygmalion and Galatea.

A Greek myth, you say? Well, yes. Pygmalion was a sculptor who had decided to remain a bachelor, finding women of his time unsuitable and without virtue. He decided to carve a statue of ivory and, when he was finished, he realized he had made the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. And he promptly fell in love with her. Aphrodite, as we might expect, took pity on him and breathed life into the statue. She became Galatea. They married and lived happily ever after. The story of Pygmalion’s intense love of his own creation became a template for many later artistic expressions, including, most famously, George Bernard Shaw’s play, called Pygmalion; a film of the play, also called Pygmalion, starring Leslie Howard and Wendy Hiller; and a musical adaptation of the play, My Fair Lady.

Luc Besson’s updated version was decidedly post-modern, complete with drugs, nefarious doings, and undercover ops. Professor Henry Higgins and Eliza Doolittle are nowhere to be found, but that’s just fine. This remake, which was also known as The Assassin in the UK and Europe, is less interesting on several levels, but it had the attraction of Gabriel Byrne in the role of “Bob,” the operative who molds, in this case Maggie, into someone he can use. And falls in love with her in the process.

The movie was not that engrossing for my mother, despite the high-performance action and the special effects, and I could tell she was losing interest when suddenly we both became aware of the scene in which “Uncle Bob” describes the young Maggie riding a wild black horse as a young girl. It is a rather remarkable bit of play-acting in this mostly formulaic movie and my mother watched with attention. At the end of it, she placed her hand on my arm (I was of course completely attuned to what was happening on the screen at this point), and I remember looking at her and she said:

And that is pretty much what you need to know about this film. Bridget Fonda stopped making movies in 2002 and she married the film composer Danny Elfman. They have a son and she has been inactive in films since. She had some good roles during her career (Little Buddha, The Road to Wellville and Jackie Brown) and you should note that she did a great job in this film as well. She and Gabriel were an interesting clash of characters and wills and together they created an emotional core for this film that the original actually lacked. But the director was John Badham and so action generally takes precedence. This is an American remake and remakes of French films tend to result in fare more for “American” tastes. Without subtitles. Too bad.

The other important thing you should know is that Gabriel Byrne is hot in this movie. He may wear dark colors and appear dour, but his eyes are dazzling and his smile lights up everything around him. He commands your attention in a way that is thrilling. Though not the leader of this group, he always seems to be in charge. And he shoots a pistol (accurately!). And he takes a beating from a woman (twice!). How much hotter could he get?

The Point of No Return Mega Movie Page brings you all of the Gabriel Byrne goodness that this film has to offer: video, screencaps, reviews, and more. Get out your little black dress/cool dark suit and your water pistol and your mojo and enjoy some Nina Simone on the soundtrack and some Bridget Fonda being tough and also vulnerable. Most of all, enjoy Gabriel Byrne, playing an Irish trickster with a burning soul.

Thank you for creating this Mega Movie Page.
Now I want to see this movie again, even if it is not one of my favorite movies with Gabriel. Nice to hear that your mother saw this movie Stella. She should only have know that you have created this wonderful Byrneholic site for all of us.

Thanks, Nora. Yes, it was odd that this film was the only one my mom got to see. By the time I had introduced her to Gabriel Byrne on video, she was too ill to enjoy him. I think she managed to catch a few moments of Miller’s Crossing one night, but it was too late. I know she is enjoying him now though. She’s watching over my shoulder! :-)

I own a copy of ” Pictures in my head ” I would like to get Autographed. Do you know the best way to get this done? Any help with this and I would be so greatful. Thank you for your Admiration for this great Actor. Keep up the good work.

Well, in the recent past, this might have been easier, because Mr. Byrne was appearing in all sorts of places as Cultural Ambassador for Ireland. Now that he is filming on location, it will be harder. Stay alert for opportunities though–he supports lots of different causes and shows up for them in person. We post about these whenever they occur. Good luck and thanks for dropping by!

Thank you so much for the reply. I live in Kodiak, Alaska which is an Island so maybe if he came here to visit the Emerald Isle of the United States and do some Fly Fishing for Salmon… He seemed to enjoy it in Jindabyne. I will keep my eyes and ears out and Thank You for making such a diverse and enjoyable website dedicated to a great actor.

If any one from UK/Europe is reading, you will know this movie as “The Assassin”
And it is also the first movie I saw Gabriel Byrne in. I remember thinking “Wow! Who is he??”
He’s VERY hot in this film *sigh* must dig out the dvd :)

Uncle Bob indeed! You know, in a funny way, I am glad this is the film of his my mother experienced. There is so much that is quintessentially Gabriel Byrne about this role and his performance. Lyrical, mysterious, and dare I say, hot? A go-to film for me, too. Especially on dark days. :-)

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Welcome to the home of Gabriel Byrne on the web, the place to discover news, events, photos, videos, and more about this inspiring, gifted, and eloquent artist. His passion for his craft has intoxicated us all. Enjoy!

Byrneholics Online is a fan site devoted to the actor, writer, producer, and activist GABRIEL BYRNE.

Active since 2008, we are an archive of resources spanning the entire career of this inspiring artist. We are by fans, for fans.

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